😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in Barcelona versus $376 in Roxas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $611 in Roxas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,550 in Barcelona versus $847 in Roxas.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 540% more expensive than in Roxas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 79% above, Roxas is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98€15.97
$2.76₱173
551.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4€59.9
$19.33₱1,212
248.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.37€11.88
$2.42₱152
452.48%
Cappuccino
$3.34€2.97
$1.88₱118
77.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.62
$0.45₱28.40
555.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.68
$0.17₱10.36
1017.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.88€3.44
$1.05₱65.9
269.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57€4.06
$1.75₱110
161.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.12
$1.69₱106
-24.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96€1.74
$0.89₱56.1
120.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.55
$0.84₱52.8
108.33%
Eggs
$4.89€4.35
$1.94₱121
152.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.47€15.52
$5.81₱364
200.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.06€8.05
$3.96₱248
128.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.18€17.93
$6.35₱398
217.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08€2.73
$1.62₱102
90.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.80
$0.95₱59.5
113.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.31
$1.31₱82.1
98.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71€2.41
$0.82₱51.5
230.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.91
$0.93₱58.5
131.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21€1.96
$0.93₱58.6
137.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.37
$1.47₱91.9
4.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$0.77₱47.99
20.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.09€6.30
$2.21₱139
220.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.63€6.78
$6.22₱390
22.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.33
$1.11₱69.3
34.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.42
$1.25₱78.5
118.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.95€2.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.91€23.02
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13€2.78
$0.78₱49.08
301.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45€1.29
$0.33₱20.93
339.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.17€30.35
$2.33₱146
1366.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.59
$1.01₱63.3
77.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.8K
$21.5K₱1.3M
61.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K€26.9K
$19.0K₱1.2M
59.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181€161
$62.5₱3,918
189.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56€12.05
$7.90₱496
71.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.12€31.20
$21.35₱1,339
64.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.2€47.23
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05€14.26
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.37€10.10
$4.69₱294
142.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$939€834
$32.11₱2,014
2823.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.2€78.4
$23.66₱1,484
272.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.77€35.33
$17.88₱1,121
122.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€91.8
$56.4₱3,539
83.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€106
$24.27₱1,522
392.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,695€1,506
$315₱19.7K
438.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301€1,155
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,576€2,288
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,941€1,724
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,470€6,637
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,195€4,615
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,299€2,043
$564₱35.4K
307.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.28
7.33
-55.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: October 4, 2026
Last update for Roxas: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,695 in Barcelona and $315 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 307% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $19.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $156 per month, with Roxas cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Roxas?
Barcelona and Roxas differ by about 540% in total monthly costs ($2,405 vs $376 including rent). Roxas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Roxas?
Average pay runs 307% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Roxas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,695 in Barcelona versus $315 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Roxas?
Childcare runs $939 in Barcelona versus $32.11 in Roxas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Roxas – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $67.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $376 in Roxas versus $2,405 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Roxas but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Roxas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Roxas?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Roxas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Roxas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Roxas?
Expats usually find Roxas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 540% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.